Morgan finds drive needed to overcome handicaps

Many of the talented youngsters who brought Great Britain and Ireland consecutive victories against the Americans in the Walker Cup in 1999 and 2001 have already made their mark on the professional game. Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Nick Dougherty and Graeme McDowell are all part of the new generation led by Justin Rose.

But success in the pro game is not necessarily dependent on that badge of honour of the amateur circuit that is Walker Cup selection. If the team who won at Sea Island in Georgia 17 months ago were one of the best ever, it suggests some of those who did not make the cut might be pretty handy. Since April, when he turned professional, John E Morgan has been proving the case emphatically.

When Morgan celebrated his 25th birthday six days before Christmas he could do so knowing he had won playing rights on both the European and American tours for 2003. As rises go, it is in the meteoric category.

"What John has achieved is amazing," his manager, Eddie Hearn, said, "but, given everything he has been through, it is even more unbelievable."

Morgan is the son of a Bristol docker and suffered from epilepsy and dyslexia while growing up. He is still on medication for the former – which can disrupt his sleeping – and, while battling through three stages of the US Qualifying School, had to fight off fatigue as well. Nevertheless, at the Finals he led after four days of the marathon six-round event and comfortably collected his card alongside established European Tour players Alex Cejka and Carl Pettersson.

Morgan had already earned his European Tour card by finishing in the top 15 on the Challenge Tour. "I cannot believe what has happened to me over the last few months," he said. "Everything has been a bit of a blur. I knew I had the game but didn't think I would get the opportunity to prove it. It's a different way of life with a lot of time spent on the road but I love it."

There will be a lot of time on airplanes, as well, and his first date on the US Tour was the Sony Open in Hawaii, which ended on Sunday with Ernie Els' thrilling victory over Aaron Baddeley. Morgan missed the cut but not before he produced an impressive 68 in the first round in which he did not drop a stroke.

"The plan is to play in the States through to April, when we will reassess the situation," Hearn said. "If things are going well he will come back to play in some of the bigger European events but, if not, he'll keep grafting in the States. America is going to be the first priority but he has committed to playing the minimum of 11 in Europe and is keen to do that after qualifying from the Challenge Tour."

Ireland's Richard Coughlan was the first to gain cards on both tours as a rookie. He based himself full-time in the States but could not keep his card. Last year Donald also took the rare decision to begin his career in America but it paid off handsomely when he won one of the last events of the season.

"John knows players like Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty and feels he is in the same league," Hearn said. "He does not fear anything. He has always had lots of talent and was a bit like Ronnie O'Sullivan. He used to play very quickly but now he has improved his concentration tenfold.

"He certainly seems to lift his game for the bigger occasions, like the final stage of the Qualifying School. The health problems he's had in the past have only made him more determined to succeed now. He knows he has to improve his fitness and he is working with the right people on that and things like his diet."

Hearn, who heads up the golf division at his father Barry's Matchroom stable, first saw Morgan on the Europro Tour shortly after he turned professional. "I was told there was someone who looked a bit tasty," he recalled. "He definitely had a presence about him on the course. He looked a natural and he was obviously enjoying himself. He's a good-looking guy, a marketing man's dream." A sponsorship deal is imminent.

Hearn helped Morgan to get some invitations to Challenge Tour events and in the second of them he was runner-up to Cejka, who was moonlighting at a local German tournament. He then won his eighth event at the Challenge Tour Championship at Bowood in Wiltshire. The invitation had only come through two days before; on the day before the tournament he signed with Matchroom.

Once Morgan's place in the top 15 was assured, the idea of trying his luck in America was brought up. "It was a case of what now?" Hearn said. "He is the sort of person who needs to be challenged to keep motivated. When I suggested the US Tour School, he said: 'Why not'?"

After succeeding there, Morgan said his dream was to buy his father a "place in the sun". "His father has worked hard all his life and supported John throughout his amateur career," Hearn said.

"John would love to get his dad off the docks and hopefully his parents will be able to join him in America sometime during the year."